Devyn Chaleur.
Articles and photos pop up, and I find it absolutely weird that my stomach starts churning when I read of how there’s this whole bridal war that unofficially took place, the moment Devyn released an actual PSA about needing a bride to maintain peace in his territory.
This world seems to be just as modern and advanced as mine was—maybe even more—but it’s surprisingly archaic when it comes to marriage and relationships. Do the women in this world reallynotsee anything wrong in competing for a man’s attention? Is marrying for lovenot—
What was that?
I freeze and hold my breath...and there it is again.
Footsteps in the hallway.
Steady. Unhurried. And getting closer by the second.
Could it be Abigail?
Or the king?
Or someone else? Someone insane—
Phew.
The footsteps have passed my door before eventually fading into silence.
I let out the breath I was holding. Fall back into my bed, which is unfortunately a lot more comfortable than the one I have back home...in the other world.
Hysteria bubbles in my throat, but I manage to swallow it back.
The other world.
I can’t believe those words are starting to feelnormal.
I squeeze my eyes shut, but sleep refuses to come.
Questions abound. And memories that I still can’t make sense of.
A bride in a black wedding gown.
Someone insane.
And a mafia king who wants to marry me because...
Oh.
Whydidhe want to marry me?
I think that matters, right?
But exhaustion pulls me under before I can even figure things out.
Chapter Three
THE SUMMONS COMES ATnine.
A sharp knock—the first knock I've heard in this house, actually, which makes me wonder if the staff are held to different standards than their employer—and then a woman's voice, quiet but firm.
"The king requests your presence in his study."
The tone speaks louder than words in this case.
